The pandemic threw up many heroes who helped the needy. The first to do so in Goa was an orphanage in Margao that gave food to the homeless and the migrants during the first lockdown. This action was a catalyst that propelled a number of other humane acts.
Sadly, many more who ‘provided’ help did so for their personal ego. During the deadly months in Goa, people were dying at the rate of around 60 per day. 95% were due to oxygen shortage but not one of our many philanthropists or political leaders came forward with even a single oxygen concentrator! A Rs 45,000 worth concentrator was sold at Rs 80,000. The Goa Shipyard finally provided a PSV oxygen generator plant for the South Goa District Hospital: but is came too late. Had they purchased oxygen concentrators, even one, many lives would have been saved. A shipyard whose projects run for years from keel laying would have known the delay would save no lives.
Today, Covid deaths in Goa still read 4 or 5 on any given day, yet the Governor provides public money for dialysis patients to ‘honour the birthday of the PM’?
